Regenerator rim attachment



Jan. 26, 1965 CHUTE REGENERATOR RIM ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 15, 1961 INVENTOR. RICHARD CHurE BY MQ QLL ATTURNEYS Jan. 26, 1965R. CHUTE 3,167,115

REGENERATOR RIM ATTACHMENT Filed Nov. 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fuji.

INVENTOR. RICHARD CHUTE H T 'RNEYJ United States Patent 3,167,115REGENERATOR RTM ATTACHMENT Richard Chute, Huntington Woods, Mich,assignor to Continental Motors Corporation, Muslregon, Mich, acorporation of Virginia Filed Nov. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 151,944

7 Claims. (Cl. 165-7) My invention relates to heat exchange apparatusand more particularly to attaching a metal driving rim to a ceramic corefor a rotary regenerative type heat exchanger.

In a preferred rotary regenerator of the type ordinarily used with aturbine engine, a cylindrical matrix of heat absorbent material rotatesin a stationary housing. The housing is provided with seals and ductwork which define, as far as possible, two distinct sections. Exhaustgases are directed through one of these sections thereby relinquishingheat to the rotating matrix. Compressed air, on its way to thecombustion chamber, passes through the other section absorbing this heatby contact with the matrix core. A desirable diminution in thetemperature of the exhaust gas is eifecuated while at the same timeenergy, in the form of heat, is retained in the engine which wouldotherwise be lost.

Due to the wide variation in temperatures between the hot exhaust gasesand the cooler compressed air and also by reason of the pressuredifferential existing between these g"ses, forces are generated withinthe apparatus which ordinarily cause warpages and distortions of theparts which may result in a breakdown of the attempted separation of gasand air. This problem has long been attacked through the provision ofsealing means designed to compensate for such distortions but as yetthis method of solution has not been too successful. Another way ofsolving the problem is to produce a structure upon which the effects ofheat are minimal. With this objective in view, experiments have beenmade using a ceramic matrix core since such material has an almost zerocoefficient of expansion. The use of such a core, however, producesanother problem. Since the matrix is to be rotated, preferablycircumferentially, a metal rim must be provided encompassing the coreand being geared to some driving means. Due to the great difference inexpansion coefficients betwen ceramic and metal such a rim will expandas the rengenerator heats up and become separated from the ceramic corestructure.

It is an object of the present invention then to provide a metal rimattached by resilient means to a ceramic core in a heat exchangeapparatus which will compensate for the dilferences in the rate ofthermal expansion between these two materials.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a geared metal rimwhich may be used as a means of circumferentially driving a ceramic corestructure.

Still another object is to provide a mathematically shaped springelement which is easily constructed and which may be inserted laterallybetween a ceramic core and a metal rim to provide frictional engagementtherebetween at all stages of operation of the heat exchange apparatusregardless of deflections and warpage.

A still further object is to provide a plurality of wheel elements whichin combination with a uniquely constructed metal rim operate to maintaina rotating matrix at a predetermined pitch.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention willreadily occur to one skilled in the art upon reference to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention in which like characters refer to like parts throughout theseveral views and in which FIG. 1 is a lateral cross sectional view of apreferred rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus embodying thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the preferred apparatus takensubstantially at the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of structure shown in FIG. 1 but with partsremoved to better illustrate the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view takensubstantially on line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially atline 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially at line 6-6of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially at line 77 ofFIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the presentinvention, FIG. 1 shows a preferred regenerator as comprising asubstantially cylindrical matrix 10 rotatably carried in an encompassinghousing 11. The housing 11 which preferably is also substantiallycylindrical in configuration is provided with a plurality of radiallyspaced protrusions shown at 12A, 12B and 12C shown in FIG. 2. Theseenclose chambers 13A, 13B and 13C respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 7, a drive shaft 14 is rotatably carried inthe protruding portion 12A through a boss 15. The drive shaft 14 has anend portion 16 disposed within the chamber 13A having a drive gear 17fixed at its extreme end by an convenient means such as a pin 17A.Washers 13 and 19 are provided to separate a freely rotatable pilotwheel 20 from the drive gear 17 and the boss 15. The drive shaft 14 hasan extended portion 21 which is adapted to be connected to a convenientsource of power such as a. turbine engine (not shown).

The protruding portion 128 is provided with a boss 22 as can best beseen in FIG. 6 extending into the chamber 1313. The boss 22 carries abolt 23. The bolt 23 acts as a shaft for a freely rotatable pilot wheel24, similar in construction to the wheel 2'9 of FIG. 7, and with washers25 and 26 disposed on each side of the wheel 24. The bolt 23 is providedwith a nut 27 to complete the assembly. The protruding portion 12C has aboss 28 as can best be seen inFIG. 5 extending into the chamber 13C. Theboss 28 carries a bolt 29 which carries washers 3i) and 31 separated bya forked member 32. The forked member 32 has end portions 32A which areprovided with aligning holes 33 through which passes a bolt 34 acting asthe shaft for a freely rotatable pilot wheel 35 and washers 36 and 37.The pilot wheel 35 is similar in construction to the wheels 2% and 24 ofFIGS. 5 and 6. A nut 38 holds the wheel 35 and washers 36 and 37 on thebolt 34. The forked element 32 is provided with a toroidal recess 39having an axis substantially normal to the axis of the aligning holes33. The recess 39 provides the seat for a spring 44) and a bolt 41 whichpasses through the protrusion 12C and the spring 40 as seen in FIG. 2.

The housing 11 is provided with sealing means 42 which may be in thenature of the sliding seal assemblies described in my copendingapplication Serial No. 151,945, filed November 13, 1961.

The matrix 10 preferably comprises a core structure 43 of any ceramic orporcelain material known in the art and a metal rim structure 44. Oneedge of the rim 44 is provided with a plurality of annul-arly spacedslots 45 as can best be seen in FIG. 4. The other edge is provided withan annular radially outwardly extending flange portion 46. Asubstantially centrally positioned rib portion 47 is provided with gearteeth 48 which mesh 3 with the teeth of the drive gear 17. The flangedportion 46 and the rib portion 48 define the edges of a smooth annulartrack 49 wide enough to accommodate the pilot wheels 20, 24 and 35.

The metal rim 44 is spaced from the core structure 43 by means of aplurality of annularly spaced, laterally inserted spring members 50. Thespring members 51 as can best be seen in FIG. 3, each have a somewhatarcuate base portion 51 and a pair of spaced upright extensions 52. Theextensions 52 define an annular path around the periphery of the corestructure 43. On one side the upright extensions 52 fit into the slots45, while on the other side, the extensions 52 rest against the side ofthe flanged portion 46.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the spring members 50provide a means to compensate for the variance in heat distortionbetween the ceramic core structure 43 and the metal rim 44 by providingfrictional contact between these two parts at all stages of operation.

As the regenerator heats up and the metal rim begins to expand, theresilient spring members 50 act to take up the slack between the core 43and the rim 44. In this way rotational force is efiiciently supplied tothe ceramic :core through the rim Without regard to warpage anddistortion.

The pilot wheels 20, 24 and 35 ride in the track 49 providing thenecessary circumferential support between the rotating matrix and thehousing 11. The pilot Wheel 35, being resiliently pivoted as seen inFIG. 2, when carried by the forked member 32, provides a unique way ofadjusting and maintaining the pitch line of the rotating matrix.

It will also be apparent to: those skilled in the art that while onlyone preferred form of the present invention has been illustrated anddescribed, various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary regenerative heat exchanger (a) a housing,

([1) a matrix of a heat absorbent material rotatably mounted in saidhousing and comprising a substantially cylindrical member having asubstantially annular exterior surface,

(c) a rim member encompassing said annular surface of said matrix andspaced therefrom and constructed of a material having a highercoefficient of thermal expansion than said heat absorbent material,

(a!) means rotating said rim member, and

(e) means drivingly connecting said rim member with said annular surfaceof said matrix whereby rotation of said rim member produces rotation ofsaid matrix,

(1) said connecting means comprising a plurality of spring elementspositioned laterally across said an nular surface intermediate saidmatrix and said trim member and spaced annularly about said surface,

(g) said spring elements each comprising a base portion resilientlyfrictionally engaging said annular surface of said matrix and a pair ofspaced extensions extending outwardly from said base portion,

(h) said rim member being provided with a plurality of \annularly spacedslots and a radially extending annular surface spaced from said slots,

(i) one of said extensions of each of said spring elements beingreceived by said slots and the other of said extensions frictionallyengaging said annular surface of said rim member whereby relativeexpansions and distortions of said rim member and said matrix duringhigh temperature operating conditions of said heat exchanger is absorbedby said spring elements to maintain a driving connection therebetween.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1*and in which said rotating meanscomprises a plurality of wheels rotatably carried in said housing, atleast one of said wheels being geared, said metal rim being providedwith an annular geared rib meshing with said geared wheel, and saidother wheels riding on other portions of said rim whereby to providesupport for said matrix.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and in which said core section isceramic and said rim is metallic.

4. in a rotary regenerative heat exchanger,

(a) a matrix comprising a substantially cylindrical core section of heatabsorbent material, a rim member constructed of a material having ahigher coefficient of expansion than said core section, and a pluralityof annularly spaced, laterally inserted, resilient spring memberspositioned intermediate said core section and said rim member,

(11) a housing enclosing said matrix,

(c) means carried by said housing for rotating said matrix,

(d) said rim member being provided with an axially extending exteriorannular surface and an annular geared portion being provided on saidexterior surface of said rim member,

(e) said rotating means comprising a geared member carried by saidhousing and meshing with said geared portion and means for rotating saidgeared member, whereby to rotate said rim member, 7

(f) said rim member being further provided .with a plurality ofannularly spaced slots and a radially extending annular surface and eachof said spring members being provided with a substantially arcuate baseportion and a pair of spaced radially outwardly extending extensions,one of said extensions of each of said spring elements beingrespectively received by said slots and the other of said extensionfrictionally engaging said radially extending annular surface wherebysaid spring members are frictionally resiliently secured to said rimmember, and

(g) said base portion of said spring members resiliently frictionallyengaging said core section whereby to resiliently secure said rim.memberto said core section so that rotation of said rim member will producerotation of said core section even during high temperature operatingconditions of said heat exchanger.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and in which said rotating meansfurther comprises,

(a) a plurality of pilot wheels rotatably carried by said housing,

(1)) a radially outwardly extending flange portion being provided onsaid rim member to provide an annular track portion intermediate saidgeared portion and said flange portion,

(0) said pilot wheels rotatably riding in said track portion whereby torotatably support said matrix in said housing.

6. The apparatus as definedin claim 4 and in which said base portion ofeach of said spring elements frictionally resiliently engages twoaxially spaced portions of said core section.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and in which said core section isconstructed of ceramic material and said rim member is constructed ofmetal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,165,772 Garrund Dec. 28, 1915 2,267,815 Bush Dec. 30, 1941 2,302,110Dow et al. Nov. 17, 1942 2,552,937 Cohen May 15, 1951 2,893,699 BubniakJuly 7, 1959 3,057,604 Bubniak et al Oct. 9, 1962

1. IN A ROTARY REGENERATIVE HEAT EXCHANGER (A) A HOUSING, (B) A MATRIXOF A HEAT ABSORBENT MATERIAL ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING ANDCOMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLYANNULAR EXTERIOR SURFACE, (C) A RIM MEMBER ENCOMPASSING SAID ANNULARSURFACE OF SAID MATRIS AND SPACED THEREFROM AND CONSTRUCTED OF AMATERIAL HAVING A HIGHER COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION THAN SAID HEATABSORBENT MATERIAL, (D) MEANS ROTATING SAID RIM MEMBER, AND (E) MEANSDRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID RIM MEMBER WITH SAID ANNULAR SURFACE OF SAIDMATRIX WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID RIM MEMBER PRODUCES ROTATION OF SAIDMATRIX, (F) SAID CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPRINGELEMENTS POSITIONED LATERALLY ACROSS SAID ANNULAR SURFACE INTERMEDIATESAID MATRIX AND SAID RIM MEMBER AND SPACED ANNULARLY ABOUT SAID SURFACE,